Northrop Grumman 's Fire-X passes key test

Avionics and other systems developed at Northrop Grumman's Rancho Bernardo facility are being integrated into Bell 407 helicopter. Much of that work is occurring at Bell's "Xworx" prototyping plant in Forth Worth, Texas.
— Northrop Grumman/Bell Helicopters

Avionics and other systems developed at Northrop Grumman's Rancho Bernardo facility are being integrated into Bell 407 helicopter. Much of that work is occurring at Bell's "Xworx" prototyping plant in Forth Worth, Texas.
/ Northrop Grumman/Bell Helicopters

In an important milestone, engineers recently turned the power on for the first time in Fire-X, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that Northrop Grumman's Rancho Bernardo plant is developing with Bell Helicopter.

Northrop believes it can expand its product line by creating a vertical take off-and-landing UAV that the military could use to transport cargo or carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Northrop also produces Global Hawk, a UAV that's already in wide use around the world.

Global Hawk is a fixed-wing aircraft. Fire-X will be an unmanned helicopter. Engineers have installed such things as Northrop flight computers, navigational equipment and acuators in a Bell 407 helicopter.

The Fire-X was powered up for the first time on Sept. 17th. The demonstration "went well," said George Spongberg, who manages the Fire-X program for Northrop Grumman.

Spongberg said that a pilot will test fly the Fire-X next month, using the Northrop avionics systems. If that goes well, the medium-range vehicle will be put through a series of unpiloted flights in November or December at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

Many companies, including General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in Poway, design or build UAVs. Northrop is trying to expand its presence in this field with the Fire-X, which is designed to be capable of operating from Navy ships, as well as from land sites. Northrop also is promoting Fire-X as a comparatively low-cost UAV that's capable of carrying cargo inside the helicopter, or from a sling beneath the aircraft.

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